Godsends
Chapter seven: His point of view.
Soul lived currently at an apartment room, under a two-floored facility, which was rented from Stein.
In there, only the basics he had. A medium sized bed, old and almost breaking apart; adorned with not too warm white and red blankets. A kitchen was shared with a living room and a bedroom, since the place was too small. Soul needed to go downstairs (to Stein's residence, which occupied the first floor) if he needed to use the bathroom or do laundry; there was always a royal mess in the fridge, the table and couch he owned. The thing that really bothered him the most was the fact that he didn't have a TV or gaming console, since he always wanted to spend a lazy day just in pure sloth . His only source of light was a dull lamp lamely taped to the falling ceiling. Under that light, Soul sat often to eat and, in surprise to himself, to think.
It had been a long while since Soul had deep thoughts about... pretty much everything; mostly what was going on around him lately. Back in his old life, his only preoccupations where, 'will I get to eat something good tomorrow?' 'Will I see the sunset again?' or 'Will I get caught in a dark cell, waiting for my sentence?' or 'Will I be able to fall asleep tonight?' simple things like that where now buried,in the past, along with the use of guns, smokes, and lighters. Especially lighters.
Hearing the annoying sound of an alarm clock Stein had insisted on giving to him (more like getting rid of it), Soul woke up to the anniversary of a week and three days from being assigned to Maka.
A week and four days since the accident.
A week and two days since being reunited to his old friend, Tsubaki, and befriending Black star.
Befriending? That was unexpected. Friends where like plague to Soul. Bothersome plagues that did nothing but to bring you down whenever they could.
Had Soul become soft in these past days? Maybe, and maybe not, this must be her fault.
Sitting on his uncomfortable bed, with a burning hot mug of chocolate (Stein would be kind form time to time and give him little pieces of breakfast, lunch and dinner) Soul thought about the most recent fact: Maka's newly found crush on Death the Kid.
Analyzing Death the Kid: He's shorter than Soul, paler, boring, adult-alike, mannered and freakish.
What's so attractive in that? Not meaning to brag, Soul thought how he, himself had a better body, was taller, always took initiatives, and was cool from whenever you looked.
How come he couldn't be picked by her before…?
Was Maka not only sick, but blind? Didn't she notice the great chance just in front of her eyes?...not that he ever wanted to be picked by her, of course.
Soul zipped quietly from the mug, and thoughts about his patient came to him, then his promises…
Promises…
What where his promises, again?
Did he actually say something to himself before entering unwelcome to her life?
Damn. Now he wasn't only a softie, now he seemed even clueless.
Well, it's time to work; it's okay.
It mustn't be that important, anyways.
Going downstairs, Soul would often meet up with Stein at his front door, thing he didn't quite enjoy; he was very easily freaked out by this doctor, whom would always politely see Soul off with a devilish grin: "Have a good day, Evans!"
Soul wouldn't even have eye contact with this lunatic, much less respond to him, so he would just keep on going with his head down, watching his feet, until getting to the streets, ready to take a bus and head the hospital.
At the bus ride, Soul's only thing to do in reality was just getting distressed by people's jabbering. He'd sit in an empty space, next to a window, and he wouldn't ever let anyone at all take the place right next to him...whenever someone tried to take that seat, Sould would glare, causing the person to automatically walk away into another seat or just stand up.
Honestly, couldn't anyone just shut up for a second? Couldn't he just enjoy silence while being on the bus, staring at a dirty window, and be rocked by the movement and pretend to be serene and purely cool? People are so self-centered and selfish; they think the world would stop for them just because they where having problems. People needed to understand that the world was a busy, arrogant and cruel place, where only the clever ones survive; everyone needed to understand they had people around them, who where just trying to go on quietly.
Couldn't they just understand?
It was too much to ask.
Getting to the hospital was the cool part. After crossing the automatical doors, he would find peace and silence on the once somber and dreaded building; where the only sounds where footsteps of oncoming visitors, patients, doctors and nurses; the sound a wheelchair or food-cart made while being pulled around; the sound of telephones and nurses calling some doctor to some room: it was a serene, colorless inviorment.
"Ah. Good morning, Mr. Evans". The receptionist nurse called from her desk. Soul hadn't noticed the first few times, but the woman was quite pretty; lightly tanned skin and curly chocolate brown hair, little and clear hazzel eyes. Her name tag said 'Eva' but he didn't really care, anyways he only called people who knew him for long by name. (Tsubaki, Liz, Patty and Giriko)
Soul, instead of responding, just waved his hand at Eva. He got to her desk and moved his hand in front of her face, commanding her to hand something over.
"My card. I'm starting the shift earlier today"
Eva smiled, and did as instructed. "Fine then, have a good day, and say hello to Maka for me"
Soul, without responding took the key-card and went to the elevator…
He never really said 'hello' to Maka.
Opening the door to room 106, Soul let himself in. "Oii, Tiny tits, Good mor--"
His sentence was cut loose from the scene in front of him.
Sitting with her legs crossed at her bed, Maka had a tiny mirror at the end of her bed, reflecting herself; on her right hand a comb, meanwhile on the left hand, she was holding her hair into a ponytail, along with a link.
"Tiny tits, whatcha'--"
"Don't ask." She cut him, dryly. " Just do your work…or something. There's nothing to see in here." Maka said, while blushing.
Soul closed the door behind him and walked coolly over to her side; he stood right next to her, glancing forth and back at her as she accommodated herself in a normal sitting position, covering her lap with her blankets.
"What where you doing?" Soul asked, in a curious tone.
Maka blushed, as she pouted childishly "I…saw this TV program. They said that if you change your look, you become noticeable to the people around you and…"
"Ah. You're trying to get cuter for Kid, aren't you?" Soul guessed, trying to tease her.
Maka looked away in embarrassment, avoiding any kind of eye contact with him.
"So what if I am?" Maka said, turning pink. " Look…it's none of your business" She stated.
Why did she have to be so darned serious about the most little details?
Soul chuckled at her attitude and approached the bed, sitting next to her.
"As a girl you should know you can't get ponytails and stuff look good by yourself; let me help, or else you're just going to mess your head even more than it already is." He offered, snagging the comb and links into his hands, leaving the mirror to Maka.
In response to his offer, Maka gave Soul a puzzling stare.
"So how do you know about a girl's hair? You gay or something?" She inquired, cocking her eyebrows in preoccupation. It would be kind of awkward if Soul really was gay.
Soul grunted a 'I dunno, I just know' as his fingers began moving trough Maka's blond locks. She had very messy hair, and first thing he had to do was get it in order; brushing at his own rhythm, he noticed how much hair she had. A single ponytail would look plain, not to mention it would give the impression of some manly samurai; making it even worse and manlier considering the fact that she was a little miss 'A' cup. Maybe another look would be better, so why not experiment? It was okay... he was obligated to do Liz's hair whenever she was lazy, or else getting a beat up by Giriko. He was pretty much an expert in long hair, and mostly blonde hair. What luck!
Swiftly, Soul accommodated Maka's hair in two, marking a line in the center of her head with the comb. Accurately, he brushed and put into place lost strings of hair and got them adjusted with the links.
A pair of long pigtails would suit her just fine.
"Hey, what are you doing up there? That doesn't feel like a ponytail!" Maka said, feeling impatient.
Soul grinned to himself as he saw his work done. "See for yourself."
Confused, Maka took the mirror she was holding and reflected at herself.
Her surprise was big.
She hadn't worn pigtails since she was twelve. Those sweet days when she still went to school, when she actually had something to do, and the marvelous first year of junior high popped in her head, as joyful memories: The sweet aroma of a bento box made by herself in the company of a textbook came; the first time she readed a real poetry book, doing homewrok at home, getting praised by teachers, doing unhumanly good in every test. Helping classmates with their work all accompanied by the fun and childish memory of wearing a sailor uniform with a cute little skirt and a ribbon-tie on her chest. All thanks to some pigtails.
"I…" Maka began, touching the left pigtail and playing around with it, holding the mirror with the other hand. "This looks…" She was mute.
She was thankful.
Why hadn't she thought of wearing pigtails before? She thought she was smart. "Do you think Kid would like it?" Was the only thing she managed.
Maka didn't really mean to say that; she wanted to thank Soul, but felt a bit embarrased. All she could say and still look proper would have to be something that involved her crush.
Soul managed a small smile at the sight of Maka's surprise. She had this charm of looking cute when she didn't really mean it.
"Yeah. I did a good job, you look good." He said, praising himself.
"Say…" She began, finally letting the mirror down. Unexpectedly, Maka got out of her bed and walked until she was in front of a still sit Soul. She was looking down to him, her eyes deep, and her expression soft, and a bit serious.
"Do you mind if I hug you?"
Soul's eyes widened at the question…
There was something about hugs that he didn't like.
Patty would offer them all the time, but those where goofy and meaningless.
When had it been the last time he had been hugged? Why did he avoid them so much? For some reason, Soul couldn't make it up...
…
"Yeah, whatever…" He murmured.
Before knowing it, Soul was being embraced by his patient. Maka had put her arms around his neck, trapping him. Her chest was almost burying his head, and her head was resting on his, as if she was taller. Soul didn't return the hug. His arms where stiff, and his hands on his knees. His expression didn't relax and his eyes where narrowed in an anguished look. Something wasn't right.
…
Then, he remembered.
…
…
…
..
"Mommy! Are you going to work now?" A little Silver haired boy asked a woman. She was so tall compared to him, one could only see from her jaw line to the ends of her refined, long and black party dress. The little boy was wearing one piece blue pajamas and was holding a stuffed dog. He looked helplessly at his mother.
The woman seemed to smile. "No dear. Daddy and I are going to a very important dinne; you stay here and be sure to obey your babysitters".
The boy's look saddened. "But mommy, you said you'd have dinner with me today…" He hugged the dog closely to his chest.
"It's no fair! Wes's gone to tour around Europe, and daddy already went ahead of you! Why can't you stay?!" He finished, looking hurt.
The woman took the boy by surprise by hugging him thightly,resting her head in her son's, making the boy drop his toy in surprise.
"Mommy…?"
"I'm very sorry, mommy loves you… So--"
...
…
…
…
…
….Love…?
…
…
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Soul yelled, suddenly, snapping back to reality, pushing Maka out of his way.
Maka gasped in surprise when she was now standing in front of Soul, her arms in front of her chest, as if defensing herself. Soul was panting and huffing as he had seen a phantom, or as if he was going to throw up. He was clutching to the bed's blankets and his crimson eyes where open wide.
He looked utherly sick.
Worried, Maka tried to approach him with her right hand.
"Hey…"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!". He warned, before her hand could get any closer. His tone was troubled- almost traumatized.
Maka backed away immediately, and sat on the very edge of the bed, as far away as she could. She didn't really want to bother him.
A very awkward silence filled the room, for about ten minutes. The tension was so deep, and the ambient was so gloomy, even Chrona would seem happy compared to these two. Maka was a bit afraid that she had made him uncomfortable, or hurted him. Soul was still trying to get a hold of what was going on in his head those precises momments; trying to catch up with his breath.
"Hey..." Maka finally said, breaking the silence. She coughed raspily. "I..know it's still early...Can I have breakfast now...?" It had been a while since she last coughed. She made sure not to watch him directly.
Soul nodded slowly. He didn't even look at her. "It's okay…I'll bring your medicine as well..." This would keep him occupied, and they wouldn't have to talk to each other, giving them both time to figure things out a little. Maka was very considerate.
Soul got up and allowed Maka to cover herself with the blankets; then he headed the door to go get the food. Before he could exit the room, he heard Maka's voice faintly, almost in a whisper.
"…I'm so sorry…"
While saying this, Maka looked sad, hurt and guilty.
She truly meant it. She cared for Soul as a friend, and she didn't like the idea of him being uncomfortable with her touching him, since he seemed to be the kind of person to be easily hurt, or just the kind that had been hurt many times.
Soul's reaction was only a quick gaze at his feet.
He got out of the room and closed the door shut.
When he was just out of the room, Soul stared into space, distressed.
'Dammit all… So that's why I refused contact all this time?'
'I'm such a sissy.'
'I'm garbage'
'And I'm scum…'
He was afraid of becoming dear to someone, and for someone to become dear to him. Nothing good ever came out of any kind of relation anyone had with Soul. Anyone.
But it was far too late to be afraid.
Because his fear had become a reality before even knowing about it.
"I don't deserve such a friend...and she certainly doesn't deserve a friend as me". He decided.
Before getting to the food, he sat on the floor, his hand covering his whole face, in distress and anguish-- Things where just getting complicated.
End chapter.
AN:
Well, about this chapter, two things:
One: It was a pain in the butt writing the process of doing a hairstyle. I think it looks way too out of place or nonsense-ish. I HATE descriptions :V
Two: Sorry if the chapter was lame in general. I wanted to go into more story and less fluff this time, also give the readers a good idea of how the ambient works here.
(I couldn't help but to name the receptionist lady. She has her little parts on the story so I'd feel bad leaving her out of it as just…a random nurse, no fair. I totally got 'eva' from devil may cry XD (geek much?)
I finished the chapter between 11:00pm to 1:00am, and I'm the kind of person that gets sleepy very early so… yeah, I'm very sleepy right now U.U (I'm such a child! DX)
Please review :D